by Jeanne Peugh, Director
After the seed for the amazing Chinese bamboo tree is planted, watered, and fertilized regularly every year you see NOTHING for four years except for a tiny shoot coming out of a bulb. During those four years, all the growth is underground in a massive, fibrous root structure that spreads deep and wide in the earth. But sometime during the fifth year, the Chinese Bamboo tree grows to EIGHTY FEET IN SIX WEEKS! Life is much akin to the growing process of the Chinese bamboo tree. It is often discouraging. We seemingly do things right, and nothing happens. But for those who do things right and are not discouraged and are persistent things will happen. Through patience, perseverance, diligence, work and nurturing, that “fifth year” will come, and all will be astonished at the growth and change which takes place. Finally, we begin to receive the rewards.
We can also apply the example of the Chinese bamboo tree to family history research. We sometimes spend countless hours researching, only to come up with nothing. Then suddenly a door will open, and there is all the information we have been looking for and more. It is as though our ancestors our telling us, I’m here, I have always been here, but you finally used the right key to open MY door. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, we must “never, never, NEVER give up!” The Akron Ohio Family History Center is here to help you find the right key and open those doors to connect with your ancestors. Our hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; the first and third Tuesday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; and Thursday evening 7-9 p.m.
Akron Ohio Stake News 